Liberals who understand the concept of “independence” are conservatives.
What's amusing is that most people who would take offense at the label 'liberal' are, by the classical/dictionary definition, Liberal.
And if one is a Constitutionalist then -- especially considering how little dignity is given the Constitutions [of the US and the Several States] by their respective governments -- one cannot be for keeping things the way they are (that is classical conservatism).